Runaway Duluth seal euthanized after surgery

Officials at Lake Superior Zoo say the 23-year-old seal had the surgery after the animal care team at Como noticed Vivian had lost weight and was lethargic.

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By Associated Press

Crookston Times - Crookston, MN

By Associated Press

Posted Mar. 5, 2013 at 3:00 PM

By Associated Press

Posted Mar. 5, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Duluth, Minn.

A seal that escaped from a Duluth zoo during flooding in June has been euthanized after emergency exploratory surgery.

Vivian had been living at Como Park Zoo and Conservancy in St. Paul since the flood. Officials at Lake Superior Zoo say the 23-year-old seal had the surgery after the animal care team at Como noticed Vivian had lost weight and was lethargic.

The Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/12pmL4p) reports a previous surgery was performed in late December to remove a blockage in Vivian's stomach. During the most recent surgery doctors found scar tissue and fusing of the intestine to itself. So the seal was euthanized Saturday.

Vivian and her sister, Feisty, escaped during the flood when the exhibit was overcome with water. Both seals were safely brought back into the zoo.